Courtney Eales was in attendance as the former Jam frontman thrilled a sold out crowd at the Olympia
11:20, 05 Nov 2024Updated 11:23, 05 Nov 2024
Paul Weller took to the stage of Liverpool’s famous Olympia last night. The intimate venue, with a full house, made the gig feel even more special.
The music icon has reinvented himself many times over the course of his awe-inspiring career. From his time in the Jam, to exploring different musical styles with the Style Council and being a solo artist for the past three decades. Paul embraced all his different ventures as he put on a show for the sold out venue of nearly 2,000 people.
The former Jam frontman has always been famous for his bold style as well as his performances, so it did not disappoint when he took to the stage wearing a double denim attire – and pulling it off. Kicking off the set with the upbeat ‘Cosmic Fringes’, The legendary musician set the tone for the rest of the night. He addressed the crowd saying “how wonderful it is to be back” before summing up Liverpool in two words, “wonderful place”.
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There was one thing that surprised me about the setlist, the singer was brave. Paul could easily have gone through a catalogue of The Jam and the Style Council’s greatest hits but this was a showcase of his solo material and the opportunity to place a spotlight on new album, ‘66’, above all.
It was the classic hits that truly got the crowd moving. The swift transition from The Style Council’s ‘Shout to the Top’ into The Jam’s ‘Start’ was a turning point for the gig and quite the stroke of genius as the crowd volume increased noticeably. It was obvious Paul knew ‘Start’ would be a crowd pleaser, as he announced before playing “I give up if you don’t sing along”.
And while it was not the loudest crowd I’ve ever been in, it was clear that even decades after earning the name of ‘the Modfather’ he has kept a loyal following. There were glimpses throughout of how vocal the crowd could have been if Paul had continued to perform his greatest hits. But the talented 66-year-old made sure nothing was missing with his impressive performances of new song
A crowd listening to an artists every word can often be something taken for granted in my opinion. It was the songs performed when the crowd was most quiet that really reflected the vocal ability of Paul. Ballad ‘You do something to me’ one of Paul’s best known solo songs was a highlight of the set for me. From the Stanley Road album this is a song that gives goosebumps when heard live. The heartfelt love song most likely struck a chord with many in the crowd with its emotional lyrics.
It was the final encore which will remain in my memory for many years to come. The first strum of a guitar string and fans knew immediately what song was about to be played. 1980 hit ‘That’s Entertainment’ from the Jam’s Sound Affects album was what everyone was waiting for.
And in a rendition identical to the studio version, Paul didn’t disappoint. The small venue suddenly appeared large as people appeared out of nowhere dancing and singing. This atmosphere didn’t subside any time soon as the encore flowed straight into A Town Called Malice. It was Paul Weller at his best.
The ability to capture the attention of an entire audience with a ballad to then have them bouncing on their feet ten minutes later is something not all artists are capable of. And while the audience was mostly people of an older generation there were younger people in attendance listening to the music that has transcended generations.
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